While at home we have had time to go through our travel photos and reminisce about all of the wonderful places we have been and inspiring sites we have seen. Hopefully you have too.
One of our favourite museums to revisit through our pictures was the Musee D’Orsay. We had a chance to visit in person while in Paris last spring. If you haven’t been, and to follow up on our recommended virtual tours to take while at home, please check out what it has to offer by viewing the website at https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/musee-dorsay-paris. I also enjoyed the YouTube video found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO_xu3zmqO8 which has good footage backed with music instead of the regular gallery noises.
For us the highlight was the gallery of Impressionist works found on the upper level. So, in no particular order we will share with you our Top 5 Impressionist Painters at the Musee D’Orsay.
- Degas
The Paris born artist Edgar Degas also produced bronze sculptures, prints and drawings. His 
favourite topic was dance and over half of his painting involved the ballet. Our two favourites however were of everyday folks in everyday settings. The first was painted in 1875/76 entitled In the Café but more commonly referred to as Absinthe. The second is Repasseuses (also known as Women Ironing) from 1884.
- Monet
Often heralded as the father of Impressionism, Claude Monet has a number of paintings at the D’Orsay. Many of you will recognize his paintings of his garden, pond and bridge from his home in Givernay, or his studies in light, shadow and colour using such material as the Rouen Cathedral or haystacks. I am fond of a painting from 1873 that was completed while he lived in Argentuil entitled Poppies, or The Promenade, as it reminds me of sunny summer day.
- Renoir
Without a doubt my favourite painting was Pierre August Renoir’s rendering of Dance at the Moulin de la Galette from 1876. This French artist depicts a typical Sunday afternoon in the Montemartre district of Paris with patrons wearing their best suits and dresses and dancing in the dappled sunlight of the garden café. It is flirty and light and entertaining to behold.
- Seurat
Also born in Paris, Georges Seurat is credited with inventing Pointillism, a method that replaces regular brush strokes with tiny dots. In his later life the circus as a popular theme. Seurat’s final painting, The Circus from 1891, remained unfinished at his death.
- Gonzalves
The Loge at the Italian Theatre, 1874, was painted by Manet pupil Eva Gonzalves. With very few female impressionists this painting is significant as a major work but also how it represents women of the time. The theatre was also a very popular setting for many Impressionist painters.
Our list does little to recognize all of the renowned and important paintings and sculptures on display at the D’Orsay. A visit is the only way to rectify that. Hopefully you will be able to do so soon.